Hanover man killed in crash

By Kathie Warco

Staff Writer

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A Hanover Township man, killed Saturday when his Jeep Cherokee crashed in the 800 block of Purdy Road in Hanover, was identified at the scene by a relative who was a member of the responding fire department.

Frederick Speer III, 54, of Ridge Road, was found in the wreckage of his vehicle about 9:20 a.m. His vehicle was found was upside down in a creek. A delivery driver for FedEx noticed the wreckage and notified state police at the Pittsburgh station. The delivery driver told police he could not tell if anyone was still in the vehicle.

When state police arrived, a trooper went to the vehicle and found Speer inside. With the help of neighbors, police were able to break a window in the vehicle and determine Speer was deceased.

Speer was positively identified by Victor Wright, a relative and a member of Hanover Township Volunteer Fire Department who responded to the accident.

Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said it appeared the Jeep was traveling north on Purdy when it went off the road, hit a tree and then rolled down an embankment coming to rest upside down in the creek.

The cause and manner of death are pending an autopsy. Personnel from Ambulance and Chair also assisted at the scene.

Speer is the third person to die on Washington County roads this year.